Compare towns
Sheldon vs Middlesex vs Dummerston vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sheldon | Middlesex | Dummerston | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,943 |
2,090 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.